Draining apparatus for a fluid reservoir

ABSTRACT

Draining apparatus is provided for a fluid reservoir having an opening. The apparatus includes a guide housing connected about the reservoir opening and a fluid carrier conduit slidably positioned within the guide housing. The fluid carrier conduit is movable relative to the guide housing from a first nesting position to a second extended position for draining the fluid reservoir.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fluid reservoirs are generally equipped with a drain which is used toevacuate a fluid from the fluid reservoir. Because of awkward placementof the drain on earthmoving vehicles, the fluid is allowed to pour fromthe drain onto the earth or onto components of the vehicle.

Present economic conditions, however, favor the recycling of usedhydraulic fluids. Current ecological conditions and standards demandecological handling and disposal of used hydraulic fluids. Theseeconomic and ecological conditions recommend the use of external hosesto direct fluid from the drain to ecological containers for handling andprocessing. These hoses must be stored until needed and oftencontaminate the fluid thereby increasing the processing costs. Somehoses are permanently connected to the drain which subjects them toabuse from mud and debris.

Current vehicles, and particularly large earth-moving vehicles, aredesigned with limited access to the drain which makes connecting thehoses difficult. Routing the hoses around or through the substructure ofthe vehicles is also a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of theproblems as set forth above.

According to the present invention, a fluid reservoir has a drainingapparatus which comprises a guide housing connected about a reservoiropening and having a side opening, and a fluid carrier conduit having astop element and an opening. The fluid carrier conduit is slidablypositioned within the guide housing and movable relative thereto from afirst position to a second position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical, cross-sectional, cutaway view of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fluid carrier conduit;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1, but showinganother embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 1 and 3, butshowing another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a draining apparatus 10 is connected to a fluidreservoir 12 which has an opening 14, a bottom 15, a chamber 16, forcontaining a fluid 18. The draining apparatus includes a guide housing20 connected about the reservoir opening. The guide housing 20 hassidewalls 22 and a side opening 24. An annulus 25 is formed between theguide housing 20 and the carrier conduit 48 and is at a greaterelevation than the side opening 24 of the guide housing 20.

Referring to FIG. 4, the side opening 24 of the guide housing 20 ispositioned outside the reservoir chamber 16. A duct 26 is positioned inthe side opening 24 and extends through the reservoir opening 14 andinto the reservoir chamber to a location adjacent the reservoir bottom15.

Referring to FIG. 3, the side opening 24 of the guide housing 20 ispositioned inside the reservoir chamber 16 generally adjacent the bottom15 of the reservoir 12. A duct 28 is positioned in the side opening andextends to the reservoir bottom. The guide housing has a generallylongitudinal axis 30 and is positioned within the reservoir opening 14and forms an acute angle with a generally vertical axis 32 of thereservoir.

The draining apparatus 10 includes a threaded collar 34 which has anannular groove 35. The collar 34 is connected to the reservoir 12 aboutthe reservoir opening 14, (FIG. 1). The collar can also be connected tothe guide housing as shown in FIG. 4. The collar is fitted with a drainplug 36 having threads that are mateable with the threads of the collar34, (FIG. 1). The collar includes an adapter 38 which is threadablymated with the threads of the drain plug and with the threads of thecollar.

The annular groove 35 is fitted with a seal 42 which comprises an upper,radial seal 44 and a lower, wiper seal 46. The seals are constructed ofa suitable material, such as rubber or the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, the draining apparatus 10 includes a fluid carrierconduit 48 slidably positioned within the guide housing 20. The carrierconduit has a sidewall 50 extending between first and second endportions, 52 and 54, respectively. A stop element 56 is securelypositioned on the first end portion in spaced relation to an opening 58on the sidewall. The second end of the carrier conduit is connected tothe adapter 38, preferably by bonding and has at least one annularinternal ridge 60 thereon. The carrier conduit is movable relative tothe guide housing between a first nesting position and a second extendedposition. The stop element is shown in the nesting position in FIG. 1with the extended position indicated by broken lines. In the nestingposition, the guide housing side opening and carrier conduit opening arefree from fluid communication. In the extended position, the guidehousing side opening and carrier conduit opening are in fluidcommunication. Where a stop element opening (not shown) replaces theopening on the sidewall of the carrier conduit, then in the extendedposition the stop element abuts the reservoir bottom.

At least one generally coaxial conduit 62 having a sidewall 63positioned between first and second end portions 64 and 66,respectively, is sldiably positioned inside the sidewalls 50 of thecarrier conduit 48. The first end portion of the coaxial conduit has atleast one, preferably annular, external ridge 68 and the second endportion has at least one, preferably annular, internal ridge 70. Theinternal ridge of the first carrier conduit lies in the pathway of theexternal ridge of the coaxial conduit. Similarly, where there is aplurality of the coaxial conduits slidably positioned inside the guidehousing and slidably positioned inside one another, the internal ridgeslie in the pathways of the external ridges. The external ridges are influid-tight, sliding engagement with the sidewalls of the carrierconduit and coaxial conduits. The carrier conduit and coaxial conduitare constructed of a flexible material, such as rubber or the like. Theridges are suitably reinforced with wire or other similar material,(FIG. 2). The conduits may also be formed by reinforced, flexiblematerial, such as reinforced rubber or the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, the draining apparatus 10 includes sealingapparatus 72 disposed in the annulus 25 between the guide housing 20 andcarrier conduit 48. The sealing apparatus includes a ring element 74which is connected to the sidewalls 22 of the guide housing 20 and hasan external surface which is the connecting surface and an internalsurface having a groove 76. An annular seal 78 made of any suitablematerial, such as rubber or the like, is positioned within the groove.Where the stop element opening (not shown) replaces the opening 58 onthe sidewall of the carrier conduit 48, then the sealing apparatus 72 isreplaced by an air space (not shown).

The carrier conduit 48 is movable relative to the guide housing 20between a first nesting position and a second extended position. In thenesting position, the stop element 56 is spaced from the ring element 74and the side opening 24 of the guide housing 20 and carrier conduitopening 58 are free from fluid communication. In the extended position,shown by broken lines in FIG. 1, the stop element 56 is in contact withthe ring element 74 and the side opening 24 of the guide housing 20 andcarrier conduit opening 58 are in fluid communication. In the extendedposition, the coaxial conduits 62 are extended.

OPERATION

While the operation of the present invention is believed clearlyapparent from the foregoing description, further amplification willsubsequently be made in the following brief summary of such operation.

To remove the fluid 18 from the reservoir 12, the drain plug 36 isremoved allowing access to the coaxial conduit 62 which is in the first,nesting position inside the carrier conduit 48. The coaxial conduit isextended as desired and the adapter 38 is loosened. When the carrierconduit is moved from the nesting position to the second extendedposition, the fluid is free to flow from the reservoir. The flow can bestopped at any time by pushing the carrier conduit back into the guidehousing 20 a few inches toward the nesting position.

The flow may be started or stopped in this manner at any time as long asthe fluid level remains above the opening 24 in the guide housing. Whenthe level drops below the opening, the fluid remaining is siphonedthrough the ducts 26 and 28. Once started at any level, the flow willcontinue until the reservoir is evacuated.

The carrier conduit 48 and coaxial conduits 62 remain relatively cleanand oil free because of the annular seal 78 and collar seals 42. Whenthe reservoir 12 is empty, the conduits are returned to the nestingposition and the adapter 38 and drain plug 36 are replaced.

Other aspects, objects and advantages will become apparent from a studyof the specification, drawings, and appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. Draining apparatus for afluid reservoir having an opening and a chamber comprising:a guidehousing having a bottom, a closed top, sidewalls and an opening in thesidewall and being connected at the bottom about said reservoir opening;a dividing element having an internal surface defining a circularopening and being connected to the sidewalls of the guide housing at ahigher elevation than the sidewall opening of the guide housing, saiddividing element dividing the guide housing into a first fluid receivingchamber defined by said dividing element, the bottom and the sidewallsand a second chamber defined by said dividing element, the closed topand sidewalls of the guide housing and which is substantially free offluid; a carrier conduit having first and second end portions, asidewall extending between the end portions, and an opening in thesidewall, and extending through the dividing element opening and beingextendable through said reservoir opening to a location sufficient forpassing fluid from the reservoir chamber through said second endportion; seal means for blocking fluid flow between said internalsurface of the dividing element and the carrier conduit; and a stopelement positioned on and closing the first end portion of the carrierconduit, said carrier conduit being movable relative to the guidehousing between a first position at which the carrier conduit sidewallopening is within the second guide housing chamber and free from fluidcommunication with the reservoir chamber and a second position at whichthe carrier conduit extends to said fluid passing location and thecarrier conduit sidewall opening is within the first guide housingchamber and in fluid communication with the reservoir chamber, said stopelement abutting the dividing element at the second position at alocation sufficient for automatically positioning the carrier conduitsidewall opening adjacent the bottom of the guide housing.
 2. Anapparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sidewall opening of theguide housing is positioned within the reservoir chamber generallyadjacent a bottom of said reservoir.
 3. An apparatus, as set forth inclaim 2, wherein the guide housing has a generally longitudinal axis andis positioned within the reservoir opening and forms an acute angle witha generally vertical axis of the reservoir opening.
 4. An apparatus, asset forth in claim 1, including:at least one generally coaxial conduithaving first and second end portions and being slidably positionedinside said sidewalls of said carrier conduit.
 5. An apparatus, as setforth in claim 4, including:an annular external ridge on the first endof the generally coaxial conduit; and an internal annular ridge on thesecond end of the carrier conduit and being positioned in the pathway ofthe external ridge of the coaxial conduit.
 6. An apparatus, as set forthin claim 5, wherein the internal and external ridges are formed ofreinforced rubber.
 7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein theinternal surface of the dividing element defines an annular groove andincluding an annular seal positioned within the groove sealinglyabutting the sidewalls of the carrier conduit.
 8. An apparatus, as setforth in claim 1, wherein the sidewalls of the carrier conduit areflexible.